Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) recently announced that its marquee project Alviera—an ambitious mixed-use estate in Porac, Pampanga— is experiencing a 97% take-up for the first phase of its 1,800 hectares development, while land value has appreciated by 25%.

In a press briefing this week, Alviera General Manager John Estacio pronounced satisfaction with the sprawling project’s progress and predicted that 250 hectares of the estate’s master plan will be activated by the end of 2018.

The former general manager of Nuvali, another ALI mixed-use development south of Philippines’ capital city,  pointed to the strong reception of the markets in Metro Manila and in Central Luzon for the brisk take-up of residential offerings in the estate.

He said Avida’s second development has been introduced, while Alveo Land and Ayala Land Premier’s is set to launch new residential offerings by the fourth quarter of 2018.

Alviera, in partnership with Leonio Holdings Inc., added 700-hectares to the development late last year and expanded to 1,800 hectares with its investment raised from P90 billion to P100 billion.

The 64-hectare Eco-Industrial Park at full development is expected to create 3,000 jobs. 41 industrial lots are sold and locators are expected to start operations by end of the year. Commercial lot sales have also started to bring in new investors with 25% sales take up. “We decided to expand because we are planning to contribute in the development of tourism in the country,” Estacio said.

“ALI made this investment to attract the top foreign leisure players from Europe, Asia, and North America to boost tourism in the Philippines,” he explained.

In anticipation of the potential boom of Central Luzon, ALI is developing Alviera as the catalyst that will boost the economic activities in the region by putting residential, business, tourism and leisure pursuits in one estate.

Estacio said Central Luzon is a logical choice as it has the third-largest GDP among the country’s regions and the second-largest population of higher-education graduates.

Meanwhile, the region’s tourism industry has a huge potential with over 3.6 million arrivals in 2015.

The government is embarking on several huge infrastructure projects, such as the North Luzon Expressway-South Luzon Expressway Connector Road, modernization and the expansion of the Clark Airport and the development of Clark-Manila high-speed railway.

Positioned as a master-planned, integrated community, Alviera is comprised of several features now to be delineated by four districts—reflecting Alviera’s position of urban living in nature.

The Alviera East will be the hub of thriving industrial and commercial centers. Avida and Alveo will complement the development of the residential component, while Holy Angel University will handle the educational needs and employment through the Industrial Park and the Alviera East Commercial.

Local entrepreneurs, according to Estacio, gave a warm response with a rapid 95-percent sales take-up of the first phase of the Alviera Industrial Park with 16 industrial lots. He added the estate is expected to launch a second phase of the industrial park covering 32-has. It has signed locators in food manufacturing, motorcycle assembly, packaging and logistics, and warehousing. The non-PEZA industrial park was designed for light to medium, nonpolluting industries.